Geeking out for a good cause – Steuben’s 2012 toy drive

If boozing it up during the holiday season is good, then boozing for a good cause is even better, and this year the Steuben’s crew did their annual holiday toy drive up right! Amid tables piled with toys and games for underprivileged youth of the Denver Housing Authority; the bash reached an impressive atmosphere of holiday joy and featured some serious creations ginned up by some of Denver’s best bartenders.

Steuben’s toy drive, now in it’s sixth year, hosted a Revenge of the Nerds theme complete with kissing and photo booths, a collection of Buddy Holly glasses, greased-back locks, and bow ties. The house wasrockin to tracks spun by Fort Collins Air Guitarist and American Idol contestant Magic Cyclops.

More than 25 guest bartenders slung geeky-themed drinks such as the Atoms Smash (Hendricks gin, ginger beer, sloe gin, lime, and Angostura bitters with a pineapple wedge) created by Ace’s Denver Eater Bartender of the Year Randy Layman. Brian Smith and Charles Wood of Pinche Tacos featured a rye whiskey hibiscus punch, and Williams & Graham’s Courtney Wilson and Jason Patz (fresh off his win at the Kahula Competition at Squeaky Bean earlier in the evening) were pouring their hand-bottled St. Germaine grapefruit punch.

photo by Taryn Kapronica

In all, twelve teams of guest bartenders hustled to keep the crowd well lubricated and bopping to 80’s hits. The real beneficiaries, of course, are the hundreds of low and middle income kids who now have a bit more to look forward to on Christmas morning. Denver Housing Authority is a local organization supporting over 10,000 families in the Denver area on their quest to provide safe, quality, and affordable housing while empowering the residents to achieve their own economic opportunity.

With hundreds of revelers and a small summit of toys, the snowy night turned into morning with enough holiday cheer to make even Santa glow with pride. Nice work once again, Steuben’s!

About Sinjin Eberle

Sinjin craves craft cocktails, free-flowing rivers, mountain bikes, huge vistas and local food - likely in that order. You will rarely find him in front of a TV, or at the mall.